A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Catton family of England.
Reg. 2660 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. a bend engr. or, betw. three owls ar”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Catton Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Catton arms are recorded
The Catton arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Catton arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Catton Family in England
The surname Catton is a locational name, meaning it was originally taken from a place name to identify where a person lived or came from. Several villages in England bear the name Catton, particularly in the county of Yorkshire, where the family had established a presence by the early seventeenth century. In the year 1620, records confirm that members of the Catton family were living in the city of York. During this period, York was a major center for trade and religious life, and families often adopted surnames based on the specific parish or village where their ancestors held land. Because the name is tied to these specific geographic locations, it suggests that the early Cattons were likely landowners or tenant farmers who moved from the countryside into the growing urban environment of York to pursue new opportunities in commerce or craft.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Catt
Old English term for a wild cat or a nickname for someone.
This name
CattonDerived from a place name meaning a settlement or enclosure of wild cats.
also spelled
Catten
Catoun
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
owlWisdom and vigilance by night
